DePaul University Athletics
Friday, August 30
Peoria, Ill.
3 p.m.
DePaul University
vs
Southern Indiana
DePaul Opens 2024 Season at CEFCU Invitational
8/29/2024 2:00:00 PM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Blue Demons to face USI, St. Thomas, and Bradley
CHICAGO - DePaul volleyball opens their 2024 campaign at the CEFCU Invitational in Peoria, Illinois Aug.30-Sept.1. The Blue Demons begin competition against Southern Indiana on Friday at 3 p.m., compete Saturday against St. Thomas at 1 p.m., and conclude tournament play with a match-up against the host, Bradley, on Sunday at 2 p.m. The Sunday match will be streamed on ESPN+, while all other tournament matches can be followed through live stats here.
"We are excited to open the 2024 season on the road at Bradley," said head coach Marie Zidek.Â
"All participating teams will bring a lot of excitement and grittiness to the opening weekend. Volleyball is having its moment and growing in popularity nationwide. There is a definite thirst to be a part of that narrative. People who come to our matches can expect to see us continue our narrative of building a team of 14 capable players that can be counted on at any moment to produce for the program. Our goal this year is to repeat in the post season and be competitive in a multitude of lineups. We hope for a good showing in ball control and the non-statted plays as our offense has a chance to reach for its high end."Â
SCOUTING THE SCREAMING EAGLES (USI)Â
The Blue Demons will head to the San Diego State Invitational held in San Diego, California from Sept.5-7. DePaul will face the host San Diego State in addition to Tulane and Portland State. DePaul opens at home against Colorado State on September 12.Â
FOLLOW THE BLUE DEMONS Â
For all the latest information on DePaul Volleyball, visit DePaulBlueDemons.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Blue Demons on X, Instagram and Facebook. Â
TICKET INFORMATION Â
Join DePaul Volleyball at McGrath-Phillips Arena this fall and join us in celebrating 50 years of Blue Demon volleyball! Season ticket memberships start at only $45 per seat and include access to all 15 regular season home matches! For an additional $30, upgrade your experience and sit courtside at McGrath-Phillips Arena! Fans can visit DePaulBlueDemons.com/Tickets for more information, including single-game tickets and group opportunities.  Â
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"We are excited to open the 2024 season on the road at Bradley," said head coach Marie Zidek.Â
"All participating teams will bring a lot of excitement and grittiness to the opening weekend. Volleyball is having its moment and growing in popularity nationwide. There is a definite thirst to be a part of that narrative. People who come to our matches can expect to see us continue our narrative of building a team of 14 capable players that can be counted on at any moment to produce for the program. Our goal this year is to repeat in the post season and be competitive in a multitude of lineups. We hope for a good showing in ball control and the non-statted plays as our offense has a chance to reach for its high end."Â
SCOUTING THE SCREAMING EAGLES (USI)Â
- The Eagles posted a 15-16 overall record in 2023, including a 10-8 record in league play, reaching the semifinals of the Ohio Valley Conference tournamentÂ
- The team returns Keira Moore, who led the Eagles with 498 digs a season ago, and Carly Sobieralski, who recorded 1153 assists last fall Â
- The Eagles were picked to finish sixth in the Ohio Valley Conference preseason poll, with junior Bianca Anderson selected as a player to watchÂ
- Head coach Jeffery Aucoin is entering his third season at the helm of the Eagles programÂ
- St. Thomas posted a 7-20 overall record in 2023, nearly doubling their win total from 2022Â
- Senior outside hitter Lauren Galvin and junior libero/defensive specialist Ella Voegele have been named the Tommies' Players to Watch by the Summit LeagueÂ
- The Tommies welcome Maddie Benka as the sole freshman addition to the roster, an outside hitter from Minnehaha, MinnesotaÂ
- Head coach Thanh Pham enters his 22nd year at the helm of the St. Thomas program, placing him first in tenure among Summit League volleyball head coachesÂ
- Bradley concluded the 2023 season with a 9-22 record, tabbing two wins in conference playÂ
- The squad returns just six letterwinners from last season, led by sophomores Corrie Brown, who averaged 4.05 assists/set, and Tendai Titley, who averaged 2.34 kills/setÂ
- The Braves won the CEFCU Tournament in 2023, defeating SIUE, IUPUI, and Eastern Michigan at homeÂ
- Head Coach Alicia Williams enters her third season leading the Braves, with a 19-43 overall record at BradleyÂ
- The Blue Demons lead the series against the Tommies, 1-0. Their lone matchup against St. Thomas was a 3-0 win as part of the DePaul invitational, on September 8th, 2023.Â
- The last matchup between DePaul and Bradley was a 3-0 win for the Blue Demons on August 28th, 2021. Bradley holds the overall series record at 11-14.Â
- DePaul will face the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles for the first time in school history to begin their CEFCU Tournament on August 30th, 2024.Â
- DePaul returns 11 letterwinners from the 2023 team and welcomes four newcomers to Lincoln Park. Of the four newcomers, there are three freshmen and one graduate transfer
- Senior Jill Pressly was named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team for the third consecutive season, earning her second unanimous selection after leading the conference in both kills and points per setÂ
- Senior Rachel Krasowski is 110 digs away from topping DePaul's all time-list, earning her first Preseason All-BIG EAST selection after ranking 21st nationally with 5.02 digs/setÂ
- Head Coach Marie Zidek enters her seventh season leading the Blue Demons, posting an 18-15 overall record in 2023Â
The Blue Demons will head to the San Diego State Invitational held in San Diego, California from Sept.5-7. DePaul will face the host San Diego State in addition to Tulane and Portland State. DePaul opens at home against Colorado State on September 12.Â
FOLLOW THE BLUE DEMONS Â
For all the latest information on DePaul Volleyball, visit DePaulBlueDemons.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Blue Demons on X, Instagram and Facebook. Â
TICKET INFORMATION Â
Join DePaul Volleyball at McGrath-Phillips Arena this fall and join us in celebrating 50 years of Blue Demon volleyball! Season ticket memberships start at only $45 per seat and include access to all 15 regular season home matches! For an additional $30, upgrade your experience and sit courtside at McGrath-Phillips Arena! Fans can visit DePaulBlueDemons.com/Tickets for more information, including single-game tickets and group opportunities.  Â
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Players Mentioned
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